Jose Luis Razo, Jr.

Who is Jose Luis Razo, Jr.?

Jose Luis Razo Jr. was a student at Harvard University who was convicted of multiple accounts of armed robbery in 1989, for crimes committed while on vacation from Harvard. The press called him "The Harvard Homeboy."

Razo grew up in La Habra, California, where he had been an altar boy, the Boys Club's boy of the year, a top student at his Roman Catholic high school, and an outstanding football player. More than 60 colleges and universities pursued him during his senior of high school in 1984.

Razo selected Harvard University, and after his Freshman year, he lived in Kirkland House, the 'jock' house, and was a B+ student. However, Razo was not able to return after his sophomore year because in July of that summer, he confessed to police that he had committed a string of armed robberies in California and Florida, while on break from Harvard.

The police had labelled the unknown criminal the 'ski mask bandit' but after it became known that Razo was responsible for the crimes, the press immediately labelled him "the Harvard Hold-up Man" or "the Harvard Homeboy".

Prior to his confession, Razo had not been a suspect in these crimes. On July 9, 1987, he walked into the police station in his hometown, claiming to know something about an unsolved murder. After it became clear that he knew nothing about the slaying, Razo almost casually stated: "By the way, I've done some armed robberies."